Set Profile > Fountain Court Chambers > London, England
Fountain Court Chambers Offices
FOUNTAIN COURT, TEMPLE
LONDON
EC4Y 9DH
England
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Fountain Court Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
Proceeds of crime (POCA) and asset forfeiture
2019 Silks
Leading Juniors
Administrative and public law (including elections)
Leading Silks
2020 Silks
Aviation Tier 1
Described by clients as a ‘brilliant set’ which is ‘full of stars’, Fountain Court Chambers displays expertise across commercial disputes and regulation cases, as well as aviation claims involving disaster and catastrophic losses and damage. Akhil Shah QC was instructed by the liquidators of Thomas Cook Airlines to assist in securing its slots at leading airports; in 2019, he led an expedited judicial review application brought by Manchester Airport against the CAA and Thomas Cook in which Shah represented the airline’s interests. Elsewhere, John Taylor QC led Ben Lynch in Blanche v Easyjet, a Court of Appeal test case concerning the interpretation of common rules on compensation and assistance to airline passengers in the event of delayed or cancelled flights.
Rising stars
Nicolas Damnjanovic - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Outstanding talent, with a deep understanding of the regulatory framework of the aviation and travel industries.’
Leading Silks
2020 Silks
Leading Juniors
Banking and finance (including consumer credit) Tier 1
Fountain Court Chambers is 'a go-to set for the banking, financial services and financial crime fields', with 'enormous strength in depth from junior to senior leading counsel'. Clients note that 'the set has a knack for attracting the best of the best – who also happen to be nice people'. Major cases include Law Debenture v Ukraine, in which Bankim Thanki QC and Simon Atrill defended the Ukraine on a $3bn Eurobond loan default claim. Another highlight was Arena Plaza Jersey Limited Partnership and others v N M Rothschild & Sons Limited and others, where Patricia Robertson QC and Natasha Bennett successfully defended NM Rothschild.
Rising stars
Leading Silks
Richard Lissack QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Close to pre-eminence at the intersection of civil and criminal liability in the banking field, he is also genuinely and consistently superb for his client handling.’
2019 Silks
Nicholas Medcroft QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Very technically able, commercial outlook, and a great team player.’
2020 Silks
Leading Juniors
Adam Sher - Fountain Court Chambers ‘A hard working clear thinker who is not afraid to give forthright views.’
Commercial litigation Tier 1
Fountain Court Chambers is 'rightly among the leading commercial sets' with 'an abundance of talent and depth'. The barristers 'are at the top of their game' and the set is commended for having 'done a huge amount in recent years to promote and recruit women, making them one of the most gender-diverse sets at the commercial bar'. A recent highlight was Regeneration Investment Fund for Wales LLP v (1) Amber Fund Management and (2) Lambert Smith Hampton Group in which Anneliese Day QC and Natasha Bennett are representing Amber Fund Management. Charles Bear QC and Ian Bergson achieved a notable success in the Supreme Court in One Step v Morris-Garner.
Rising stars
Leading Silks
Michael McLaren QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Has an enormous capacity for complexity, depth of analysis and detail, combined with a rare mix of razor-sharp intellect and commercial judgement. He is also enormously approachable, accommodating and patient.'
2020 Silks
Leading Juniors
Rupert Allen - Fountain Court Chambers ‘He is without doubt one of the best juniors at the commercial Bar - an unassuming and charming personality partially disguises a Rottweiler tendency with a difficult factual or legal point.’
Simon Atrill - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Simon is always busy - and for good reason: he's a great technical lawyer who writes clearly and gets to the heart of any issue.’
Financial services regulation Tier 1
Fountain Court Chambers is 'quite simply one of the best chambers in London with the bench strength and quality to handle the largest and most complex cases'. The set has a 'good range of silks and senior juniors in the financial services field', several of which, including Richard Coleman QC and Andrew Mitchell QC offer strong non-contentious advisory support. On the contentious side, members have been involved in proceedings arising out of Barclays Bank's Qatar capital raising, with Richard Lissack QC and Eleanor Davison among those representing Barclays. Lissack, Tamara Oppenheimer QC, Bankim Thanki QC and Rebecca Loveridge were also on ENRC's team in Director of the Serious Fraud Office v ENRC.
Leading Silks
Andrew Mitchell QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘A very impressive advocate - always thoroughly prepared and able to deliver engaging submissions as well as dealing with challenges from the bench or opposing advocates.’
2019 Silks
2020 Silks
Leading Juniors
Fraud: civil Tier 1
Fountain Court Chambers is 'a top chambers and does a great deal of fraud work'. The set is commended for its 'very real strength in depth at all levels' and in recent years it has 'actively built out by lateral hires in the market', particularly in the intersection of civil and criminal fraud. The HP v Autonomy dispute saw Richard Lissack QC representing Autonomy's former chief financial officer, while, on the opposing side, Patrick Goodall QC was among those representing the claimants. Another landmark case was SFO v Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation, where Bankim Thanki QC and new silk Tamara Oppenheimer QC successfully represented ENRC in the Court of Appeal. Edward Levey QC was another member of chambers to talk silk in early 2020; considered a 'creative thinker', Ian Bergson is a rising star in chambers.
Rising stars
Leading Silks
2019 Silks
2020 Silks
Leading Juniors
Christopher Langley - Fountain Court Chambers ‘A brilliant lawyer with a modern, commercial and enthusiastic approach to cases and an engaging style of advocacy.’
Health and safety
Leading Silks
Construction
Leading Silks
Anneliese Day QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Piercing intellect, good manner with clients and hard-working. Identifies and grapples with the central issues quickly and succinctly.’
IT and telecoms
IT and telecoms (excluding regulatory) - Leading Silks
Telecoms (Regulatory) - 2020 Silks
Insurance and reinsurance Tier 2
Insurance and reinsurance disputes concerning the avoidance of cover, coverage, and points of construction issues are a staple part of Fountain Court Chambers' practice. The set is 'superb at all levels, from the leading QCs through to the junior ranks and including the clerks'; and it is 'rightly regarded as one of the leading sets for commercial disputes (including insurance disputes)'. David Railton QC is highly recommended for substantial insurance and re-insurance disputes in both court and arbitration proceedings. The 'exceptionally clever' Natasha Bennett is regularly instructed in major actions, which involve the construction of aggregation clauses in solicitors’ professional indemnity insurance policies. In recent news, Ben Lynch QC took silk in 2020, further strengthening the set at the senior end.
Leading Silks
2020 Silks
Leading Juniors
International arbitration: arbitrators
Michael Crane QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘His relaxed and friendly manner masks the fact that he is an exceptionally, hard-working, sensible and able lawyer, with an excellent sense of fairness and commercial sense.’Insolvency
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Offshore Tier 2
A set with 'real strength in depth', Fountain Court Chambers' reputation for commercial litigation in London extends to a number of members handling such disputes in the Caribbean. Ben Valentin QC, who represented the Awalco respondents in the AHAB v Saad appeal, continues to act for Sonera BV in the saga concerning the enforcement of a $1bn arbitral award against an indirect holding of shares in Turkcell. Michael Green QC continues to represent the liquidators of CLICO in the ongoing saga concerning the demise of the Trinidadian financial services company. Jacob Turner is a rising star in chambers.
Rising stars
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Professional disciplinary and regulatory law Tier 2
'A very strong set with a range of barristers with high ability', Fountain Court Chambers deploys an 'abundance of talent and depth' in various matters concerning white-collar regulators, with particular involvement in high-profile solicitors and auditors regulation cases. Mark Simpson QC continues to advise the Financial Reporting Council on its investigation into Grant Thornton's 2016 audit of Sports Direct, and Nicholas Medcroft QC is advising the same regulator on its investigations into the demise of contractor Carillion. Several members represented parties acquitted by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) in the Gary Senior case: Patricia Robertson QC and 2020 silk appointment Chloe Carpenter QC represented Baker McKenzie, while Richard Coleman QC represented a partner who was involved in the internal investigation. Another 2020 silk appointment, Edward Levey QC represented the regulator in SRA v Siaw, in which the Administrative Court reversed the tribunal's findings, holding that the respondent had acted dishonesty and struck him off.
Leading Silks
Timothy Dutton QC-Fountain Court Chambers‘Always the silk to go for sensitive and high-profile cases.’
2019 Silks
2020 Silks
Leading Juniors
Professional negligence Tier 2
Fountain Court Chambers is 'a leading professional negligence set', with 'particularly impressive silks' and 'heavyweight juniors'. The 'high-calibre' members are experienced in claims against a broad range of professionals, including barristers and solicitors, financial services professionals, fund managers, and accountants and tax advisers. In recent highlights, Anneliese Day QC, Mark Simpson QC and Natasha Bennett are acting on either side of Axiom Funds v Mayer Brown, a solicitors' negligence case relating to the collapse of a legal financing fund, and Richard Coleman QC is representing three major banks in the high-profile Ingenious litigation brought by investors in a film finance scheme.
Leading Silks
2019 Silks
2020 Silks
Leading Juniors
Travel law (including jurisdictional issues) Tier 2
Fountain Court Chambers has particular travel-related expertise in acting for bespoke tour operators, as well as other commercial disputes in the travel industry. Akhil Shah QC was engaged in Blanche v easyJet, a second appeal and test case of a passenger claim for compensation under EU Regulation 261; while Rosalind Phelps QC was involved in Volare v Civil Aviation Authority, acting as the external legal adviser to the CAA Panel deciding a contested case about the use of aircraft parts and their impact on the airworthiness of passenger aircraft. New silk Tamara Oppenheimer QC has extensive aviation sector expertise.
Leading Silks
2020 Silks
Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations) Tier 3
At Fountain Court Chambers, Richard Lissack QC is representing the CFO of software company Autonomy in the ongoing case concerning allegations of corporate fraud brought against the company by the SFO and the FRC in the UK, as well as the Department of Justice in the USA, relating to the $8bn sale of Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard. Strengthening the team on the senior end, 2020 saw Robin Barclay QC (described as 'very proactive and hardworking') and Tamara Oppenheimer QC (who 'expresses opinions succinctly and with clarity') be elevated silk.
Leading Silks
2019 Silks
2020 Silks
Leading Juniors
Company and partnership
Company - Leading Silks
Company - Leading juniors
International arbitration: counsel Tier 3
Fountain Court Chambers is an 'excellent set with some real star silks' and also some 'really excellent and talented juniors who can pick up cases quickly and easily'. Members have strong links to and experience of the market's key arbitration forums, such as the LCIA, where Anneliese Day QC was appointed to the Board in 2019. The set's commitment to the Asian market was demonstrated by its permanent presence in Singapore. Notable cases include Sonera v Cukurova Telecom/Alfa Telecom, where Bankim Thanki QC and Ben Valentin QC represented Sonera. Among the juniors, Alexander Milner is representing Naftogaz in its $100bn dispute with Gazprom.
Leading Silks
Stephen Moriarty QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Very excellent legal reasoning and an ability act across jurisdictions and legal systems.’
Leading Juniors
Energy
Leading Silks
Employment
Leading Silks
Civil liberties and human rights (including actions against the police)
Leading Silks
Product liability Tier 4
The barristers at Fountain Court Chambers are instructed in pharmaceutical and consumer product group actions as well as in claims relating to industrial, marine or aviation products. 'Superb advocate' Leigh-Ann Mulcahy QC has great experience in substantial group actions and also appears in commercial arbitrations. Akhil Shah QC is noted for having 'a good commercial knowledge of aviation which sets him apart from his contemporaries' in the product liability field.
Leading Silks
Set overviews: England and Wales
With a presence in both London and Singapore, Fountain Court Chambers is a top tier set for commercial litigation, including banking and financial services and aviation matters. This year's guide sees Fountain Court among the top ten sets for the most overall barrister rankings and most silk rankings. In a strong year for the set, Giles Wheeler QC, Edward Levey QC, Robin Barclay QC, Chloe Carpenter QC, Ben Lynch QC, and Tamara Oppenheimer QC all took silk in 2020; former UK Supreme Court Justice Lord Wilson has joined chambers as an arbitrator and mediator door tenant; Nico Leslie is a new member of the Court of Arbitration for Art; and Michael Green QC was elevated to the High Court.Clerks:
Testimonials
Clerks:
Alex Taylor is head and shoulders above all other clerks in London. Nobody has his knowledge of the market. He commands the respect of barristers and instructing solicitors alike and is always one step ahead of the market.
Alfie is a brilliant clerk. Very responsive and gets things done very quickly at any time of day.
Always quick to respond, incredibly helpful and provide frequent updates on requests/queries. Most contact has been with Georgina Gills and Declan Gray both of whom provide fantastic service.
As might be expected with a leading commercial set, the clerks room is always very professional and accessible.
Both senior and junior clerks are responsive and efficient, particularly Luke Diebelius.
Chloe Gibbs is responsive and helpful and well regarded.
Clerks are very helpful. I have mainly dealt with Katie Szewczyk and Georgina Gills. Both of them have been very good to work with, helpful in suggesting suitable counsel and transparent and helpful on fees.
Excellent – the best and most responsive clerking of any sets I use. They work hard to build long term relationships. They are generally pragmatic about fees and will accommodate the client’s needs. Luke Diebelius stands out in particular.
Excellent clerking – Sian, is a real star, Alex Taylor is the top clerk in London.
Excellent service. I deal with Sian Huckett and Katie Szewczyk who are particularly helpful.
Excellently led set with Alex Taylor being the best senior clerk in the City for quite some time now.
Fountain Court has hosted many of the meetings we have held. The clerks and the receptionists have been unfailingly helpful and courteous.
Friendly and knowledgeable. Sian Huckett is commercially-minded and efficient.
Sam Ismail is extremely approachable and helpful. The clerks’ room are consistently accommodating with instructions.
The clerking is excellent. Very professional and practical. It’s rare to come across a set where the quality of the barristers is matched by the quality of the clerks, but this is absolutely the case at Fountain Court.
The clerking team is very professional. Katie Szewczyk is impressively organised and takes an active role on business development.
The clerking team is very responsive and have always been able to make time with an appropriate barrister to suit any given situation.
The clerks are on the whole responsive, flexible and easy to work with. Richard Evans, in particular, has impressed me very much.
The Clerks offer a first rate service. Declan Grey is particularly easy to work with and goes above and beyond what is required.
The clerks team are extremely helpful and friendly. Super responsive and they go over the way to meet solicitors and client’s needs.
The Fountain Court clerks are excellent – Richard Evans in particular goes above and beyond, often at very short notice, to meet clients’ needs.
They have a very good clerking team who really take the time and effort to engage with and get to know their clients and understand their needs. Katie and Sian deserve particular mention for their fresh and engaging approach.
They have been very helpful, providing information as necessary and listing a number of complex hearing in terms of availability and court arrangements with ease and without fuss.
They’re not just efficient, but also lovely people and have gone out of their way to help us with new opportunities (for instance, in relation to entering the Singapore market, where Fountain Court now has a permanent presence).
Set:
Fountain Court is home to genuine experts in the professional negligence sphere, who are at home with the complex and wide-ranging legal and factual situations that can arise. It is also characterised by barristers that are friendly and approachable.
A brilliant chambers which has strength in depth and a modern and user-friendly clerking team.
A good, stable commercial practice – and they have done a huge amount in recent years to promote and recruit women, making them one of the most gender diverse at the commercial bar.
A quality set with strength throughout the ranks. I like that they do not take themselves too seriously and adopt a human touch: they are generally very user-friendly as a result.
A set of talented, experienced Counsel with sensitivity and a commercial approach towards the clients that they work with.
A terrific set, at the very top of its game, filled with superstars who also happen to be extremely nice.
A very strong set with a range of barristers with high ability covering most commercial and regulatory areas. A quality commercial set.
An excellent set. I have worked with numerous barristers from Fountain Court over time and have been consistently happy with the quality of their work, as well as the quality of the clerking team.
Fountain Court are our go-to chambers for banking litigation cases. They are in our view the premiere banking litigation set.
Fountain Court are renowned, quite rightly for top notch commercial work . They have real strength and quality at all levels from clerks to QCs.
Fountain Court has a first-rate aviation practice; it has a real depth of very high-quality barristers with extensive aviation experience.
Fountain Court is a go to set for us in the banking, financial services and financial crime fields. It has enormous strength in depth from junior to senior leading counsel, the barristers are all top quality and, for the most part, easy to work with.
Fountain Court is a leading and very well known chamber not only in UK but also abroad. The chambers has exceptional silks and juniors and known for expertise in the banking and commercial matters.
Fountain Court is an excellent chambers with great cases and some very talented members.
Fountain Court is an excellent set for complex commercial work.
Fountain Court is an excellent set, offering intelligent barristers and a user-friendly service. It always seems inclusive and forward looking.
Fountain Court is evidently a leading professional negligence set. Its silks are particularly impressive and it has a number of heavy-weight juniors.
Fountain Court is generally excellent and my a first port of call. They combine intelligence and excellence with a strong commercial approach.
Fountain Court is the leading aviation set, with considerable strength in depth across all aspects of the aviation industry. It has outstanding barristers with considerable aviation expertise at all levels.
Fountain Court Chambers > Set Profile
Fountain Court Chambers is a leading commercial set of chambers with 90 barristers, including 42 silks. Its core work is commercial, with members advising and representing clients in business disputes of all kinds, domestic and international, and at all levels.
The set: Members of Fountain Court Chambers appear in courts and tribunals of all levels, from complex, high-value commercial disputes in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, to county court and tribunal work. Members have experience of sitting as arbitrators, mediators and dealing with other forms of alternative dispute resolution. Members regularly work abroad, not only in international arbitrations but also as advocates in overseas jurisdictions including Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, the British Virgin and Cayman Islands, Northern Ireland and in the European Court of Justice.
The size of chambers, and the range of experience of its members, enables Fountain Court to assemble balanced teams of counsel to suit the requirements of individual cases.
Prominent former members include Lord Bingham and many other current and former Lords Justice of Appeal and High Court judges along with a Lord Justice of the UK Supreme Court. Door tenant Michael Brindle QC is president of the Abu Dhabi Global Market appeals panel, while Michael Crane QC is chairman of the Takeover Panel.
Chambers has been instructed by the UK government, leading local authorities, the general counsel of FTSE 100 companies and major and boutique international and domestic law firms.
Types of work undertaken: Members are recognised leaders in the fields of Administrative & Public Law; Aviation & Travel; Banking & Finance; Civil Fraud; Commercial Crime; Commercial Dispute Resolution; Financial Services; Insurance & Reinsurance; International Arbitration; Offshore; Professional Discipline; Professional Negligence; and Regulatory & Investigations. They are also notable for the wide range of other civil work undertaken, including Company, Restructuring & Insolvency; Construction & Energy; Competition; Employment; Media, Entertainment & Sport; Product Liability; Technology and Tax. Many Fountain Court members are regularly appointed as arbitrators in complex, high-value international arbitrations, or as mediators.
Aviation & Travel: Fountain Court members have significant expertise in the aviation and travel sectors, including in relation to aviation commercial disputes; claims involving disasters, catastrophic / extensive loss and damage; disputes linked to economic downturns; aviation insurance and reinsurance; aviation and travel regulation; and issues of public law.
Banking & Finance: Fountain Court is at the forefront of banking and financial disputes, including retail and investment banking. It is a core specialism of the set which has a reputation for large-scale, test-case litigation involving some of the world’s most prestigious financial institutions.
Commercial Dispute Resolution: All members at Fountain Court advise on commercial disputes including litigation, arbitration, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. Specific areas of specialism include complex contractual disputes, fraud and negligence claims plus niche areas such as privilege and conflicts of law.
Commercial Crime: Uniquely within the Bar’s ‘Magic Circle’, Fountain Court is a leader in corporate and individual commercial crime. It specialises in the crossover between criminal, civil and regulatory liabilities and remedies/sanctions that are now such an important feature of business.
Company, Restructuring & Insolvency: Many members have long-standing experience of advising on company law issues, restructuring and insolvency both in the context of commercial litigation and issues of a more specialist nature. Fountain Court members have advised in connection with many of the high-profile collapses of recent years including Thomas Cook, Monarch Airlines, Northern Rock, Lehman Brothers, Farepak and British Steel.
Insurance & Reinsurance: This is a core specialist area for Fountain Court, both in litigation and arbitration. Members’ experience includes cases relating to coverage and disputes surrounding liability, across all lines of business. Members are often involved in some of the most cutting edge and precedent setting insurance matters, including the FCA test case regarding business interruption claims arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
International Arbitration: Members have a wide range of experience acting in arbitrations, in litigation concerning arbitrations, and as arbitrators. The high values involved in the arbitral practices of our leading barristers have seen them act on claims valued in the billions.
Offshore: Members regularly undertake cases both for or against foreign corporations and high-net-worth individuals who have also instructed litigation practices to represent them in defending their onshore and offshore interests.
Professional Discipline: Members regularly act both for and against regulators in relation to claims against, and investigations into, professionals and have been involved in some of the most significant and high-profile matters in recent times, across a variety of professions.
Professional Negligence: Representing professionals in relation to negligence claims is a long-standing area of specialism for members of Fountain Court, with barristers acting on cases involving the legal, accountancy, construction, insurance and other sectors.
International
Fountain Court is a set with an excellent reputation for its international work. Covering many diverse practice areas including Aviation & Travel; Banking & Finance; Company, Restructuring & Insolvency; Commercial Dispute Resolution; Construction & Energy; Offshore and Technology, the set provides experienced advice, counsel and arbitration through all levels of call.
International Appointments: Michael Brindle QC is the President of the recently created Abu Dhabi Global Market appeals panel. Patricia Robertson QC has also been appointed as a member of that panel as well as, since 2019, being a member of the Advisory Panel on legal regulatory matters for the Astana International Financial Centre.
Members are called to the Bar in a wide variety of jurisdictions including Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Russia.
Offshore: Members have predominantly acted offshore for institutional and corporate clients, but also in cases involving representation of ultra-high net worth individuals, for example acting in cases involving significant Russian investors. In recent years, members of chambers have received instructions in relation to substantial offshore cases from some of the largest mainstream US and UK litigation firms, as well as from (or working in conjunction with) many offshore firms.
International Arbitration: Members regularly act in arbitrations with an international dimension. As well as acting in London arbitrations, many members have experience of acting in arbitrations conducted in foreign jurisdictions; similarly, members have experience of acting in arbitrations where the subject matter of the dispute is governed by a foreign law.
Given the growth in the number of international commercial disputes being referred to the Singapore International Arbitration Centre and the creation of the Singapore International Commercial Court in 2013, the set has had a physical presence in Singapore since September 2014.
Outside of Singapore, individual members have seen multi-jurisdictional cases involving a variety of jurisdictions including India, Switzerland, the UAE, Russia, Turkey and Israel, in disputes involving a wide range of sectors, including property, aviation, construction, shipping, financial services, international supply contracts, telecommunications and insurance. Work in the DIFC Courts and arbitral institutions has seen a particular increase, with members appearing in the DIAC.
International Arbitrators: Many members of Chambers have accepted appointments as arbitrators, and many of them are highly experienced arbitrators with strong reputations in the market.
Notable international cases include:
- The Law Debenture Trust Corporation plc v. Ukraine UKSC 2018/0192: Acting for the Ukraine in the $3 billion Eurobond claim brought by Law Debenture on behalf of the Russian Federation and heard in the Supreme Court in December 2019. This was the longest Supreme Court hearing of any non-public law case during 2019, which illustrated its importance and the breadth of issues involved.
- Arnage Holdings & Others v Walkers (A Firm): Defending one of the leading legal firms in the Cayman Islands in a long-running $400 million negligence suit brought by one of the richest families in Brazil. The case involves multiple international elements arising out of what has been described as Brazil’s “trial of the century” and includes extensive allegations of political corruption against a major Brazilian bank and its former owners. This is one of the largest and most long-running and high-profile negligence actions ever brought in the Cayman Islands.
- Cowan v Equis Special LP & Ors: Very high-value (over $440 million) fraud action involving a range of leading silks in the offshore world. The jurisdiction decision is now one of the leading Cayman authorities on permission to serve out and the meaning and effect of material non-disclosure at ex parte The claim involved parallel proceedings in Cayman and Hong Kong.
- Shrimpton v Scriven, Dragon Capital & Ors: High-value unfair prejudice petition between the founders of Vietnam’s leading private equity fund, based in Hong Kong. This was a heavyweight and highly complex shareholder dispute fought between some of the leading offshore QCs, raising numerous novel points of law and involving a truly international background.
- Nanfong International Investments Ltd: Successfully acting (both in Cayman and Samoa) to oppose a winding up petition presented against one company in a conglomerate. Successfully appealed to the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal who made an order staying the Cayman winding up petition so that proceedings in Samoa could be concluded. Subsequent five day trial in Samoa. This was one of the first such cases to be heard by the Samoan Supreme Court and it has helped to develop the jurisprudence and capability of Samoa to establish it as an offshore financial centre.
- Gao v China Biologic Products Holdings: Successfully acting for the defendant in high profile proceedings in the Cayman Islands Grand Court. The defendant is a company listed on NASDAQ and is involved in the research, development and manufacture of human plasma-based biopharmaceutical products in China. The plaintiff is the former CEO and he sued the company on the basis that a very recent share issue was conducted for improper purposes so as to thwart his consortium’s takeover offer. This was highly significant company law case, not just for the Cayman Islands but for England too.
- Turks & Caicos Financial Services Commission v Caicos General Insurance Company Ltd: Acting for the Turks & Caicos Financial Services Commission in relation to a dispute concerning licence conditions imposed on insurance companies conducting insurance business in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
- Ieremeieva v Estera, Lagur and Ivakhiv: Acting for two Ukrainian oligarchs (Mr Lagur and Mr Ivakhiv) in a dispute in the BVI concerning the operation of a trust and the ownership of various Ukrainian businesses, the value of which is said to exceed $800 million. The allegations include ones of forgery, sham and dishonest assistance in breach of trust and fiduciary duty.
- Barthelemy Holdings v Duet Group Limited: Claim by BH for breach of warranties under an Investment Agreement concerning the purchase and building of a hotel in St Barts, in the Caribbean. The trial lasted five – six weeks and judgment was given by Waksman J, upholding parts of the claim.
- AHAB v Saad & Ors: This is the largest fraud case ever to be tried in Cayman Islands, and the six-week appeal was heard by the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal in May-June 2019; judgment was reserved.
- Goodman v DRS Governance: A $120 million claim in the Cayman Islands relating to the collapse of the Axiom Legal Financing Fund.
- Sonera v Cukorova: Acting in this litigation which involves the enforcement of a US$1 billion ICC award. The case has generated a considerable number of rulings in the British Virgin Islands, including several appeals to both the BVI Court of Appeal and Privy Council in London; the case is a good example of the substantial arbitration-related disputes in which Members are regularly involved.
- The CLICO Inquiry: Instructed in the inquiry in Trinidad and Tobago, concerning the circumstances in which major banking and insurance companies based in Trinidad and Tobago sustained losses totalling billions of dollars.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Senior clerk | Alex Taylor | ||
Chambers administrator | Julie Parker | ||
Member of Chambers | LISSACK QC, Richard (1978) (QC 1994) | ||
Member of Chambers | RAILTON QC, David (1979) (QC 1996) | ||
Member of Chambers | DUTTON CBE QC, Timothy (1979) (QC 1998) | ||
Member of Chambers | DOCTOR QC, Brian (1991) (1999) | ||
Member of Chambers | MORIARTY QC, Stephen (1986) (QC 1999) | ||
Member of Chambers | RUBIN QC, Stephen (1977) (QC 2000) | ||
Member of Chambers | McLAREN QC, The Hon Michael (1981) (QC 2002) | ||
Member of Chambers | BROOK SMITH QC, Philip (1982) (QC 2002) | ||
Member of Chambers | COX QC, Raymond (1982) (QC 2002) | ||
Member of Chambers | THANKI QC, Bankim (1988) (QC 2003) | ||
Member of Chambers | BÉAR QC, Charles (1986) (QC 2003) | ||
Member of Chambers | ROBERTSON QC, Patricia (1988) (QC 2006) | ||
Member of Chambers | HOWE QC, Timothy (1987) (QC 2008) | ||
Member of Chambers | SIMPSON QC, Mark (1992) (QC 2008) | ||
Member of Chambers | GREEN QC, Michael (1987) (QC 2009) | ||
Member of Chambers | HANDYSIDE QC, Richard (1993) (QC 2009) | ||
Member of Chambers | MULCAHY QC, Leigh-Ann (1993) (QC 2009) | ||
Member of Chambers | CHAPMAN QC, Jeffrey (1989) (QC 2010) | ||
Member of Chambers | DALE QC, Derrick (1990) (QC 2010) | ||
Member of Chambers | SHAH QC, Akhil (1990) (QC 2010) | ||
Member of Chambers | MITCHELL QC, Andrew (1992) (QC 2011) | ||
Member of Chambers | GOTT QC, Paul (1991) (QC 2012) | ||
Member of Chambers | COLEMAN QC, Richard (1994) (QC 2012) | ||
Member of Chambers | RITCHIE QC, Stuart (1995) (QC 2012) | ||
Member of Chambers | DAY QC, Anneliese (1996) (QC 2012) | ||
Member of Chambers | TAYLOR QC, John (1993) (QC 2013) | ||
Member of Chambers | TOLLEY QC, Adam (1994) (QC 2014) | ||
Member of Chambers | GOODALL QC, Patrick (1998) (QC 2014) | ||
Member of Chambers | VALENTIN QC, Ben (1995) (QC 2016) | ||
Member of Chambers | PHELPS QC, Rosalind (1998) (QC 2016) | ||
Member of Chambers | KING QC, Henry (1998) (QC 2017) | ||
Member of Chambers | ZELLICK QC, Adam (2000) (QC 2017) | ||
Member of Chambers | LUCAS QC, Bridget (1989) (QC 2018) | ||
Member of Chambers | SINCLAIR QC, Paul (1997) (QC 2018) | ||
Member of Chambers | CUTRESS QC, James (2000) (QC 2018) | ||
Member of Chambers | MEDCROFT QC, Nicholas (1998) (QC 2019) | ||
Member of Chambers | WHEELER, Giles (1998) (QC 2020) | ||
Member of Chambers | LEVEY, Edward (1999) (QC 2020) | ||
Member of Chambers | BARCLAY, Robin (1999) (QC 2020) | ||
Member of Chambers | LYNCH, Ben (2001) (QC 2020) | ||
Member of Chambers | CARPENTER, Chloe (2001) (QC 2020) | ||
Member of Chambers | OPPENHEIMER, Tamara (2002) (QC 2020) | ||
Member of Chambers | MERRETT, Louise (1995) | ||
Member of Chambers | NAMBISAN, Deepak (1998) | ||
Member of Chambers | YEO, Nik (2000) | ||
Member of Chambers | JOHN, Laura (2001) | ||
Member of Chambers | CASEY, Paul (2002) | ||
Member of Chambers | PULLEN, Andrew (2016) | ||
Member of Chambers | DAVISON, Eleanor (2003) | ||
Member of Chambers | BUTLER, Marianne (2003) | ||
Member of Chambers | MURRAY, David (2004) | ||
Member of Chambers | ATRILL, Simon (2005) | ||
Member of Chambers | DUFFY, James (2005) | ||
Member of Chambers | ALLEN, Rupert (2005) | ||
Member of Chambers | BARDEN, Alex (2005) | ||
Member of Chambers | MILNER, Alexander (2006) | ||
Member of Chambers | SHER, Adam (2007) | ||
Member of Chambers | POWER, Richard (2007) | ||
Member of Chambers | ULYATT, Craig (2008) | ||
Member of Chambers | BENNETT, Natasha (2009) | ||
Member of Chambers | LESLIE, Nico (2010) | ||
Member of Chambers | EDMONDS, Daniel (2010) | ||
Member of Chambers | HOROWITZ, Dr Deborah (2010) | ||
Member of Chambers | NESTERCHUK, Tetyana (2011) | ||
Member of Chambers | LOVERIDGE, Rebecca (2011) | ||
Member of Chambers | LANGLEY, Christopher (2011) | ||
Member of Chambers | KNOWLES, Christopher (2011) | ||
Member of Chambers | AHLQUIST, Philip (2012) | ||
Member of Chambers | CLEARY, Niamh (2012) | ||
Member of Chambers | ROBERTSON, Giles (2012) | ||
Member of Chambers | RITCHIE, Samuel (2012) | ||
Member of Chambers | SAGAN, Leonora (2012) | ||
Member of Chambers | HART, James (2012) | ||
Member of Chambers | FARMER, Joseph (2013) | ||
Member of Chambers | PAUL, Simon (2013) | ||
Member of Chambers | DALY, Nick (2014) | ||
Member of Chambers | EVANS, Max (2015) | ||
Member of Chambers | KASRIEL, Max (2015) | ||
Member of Chambers | BERGSON, Ian (2015) | ||
Member of Chambers | CARALL-GREEN, Daniel (2015) | ||
Member of Chambers | RABINOWITZ, Samuel (2016) | ||
Member of Chambers | WHELAN, Alexandra (2016) | ||
Member of Chambers | DAMNJANOVIC, Nicolas (2016) | ||
Member of Chambers | TURNER, Jacob (2016) | ||
Member of Chambers | TAYLOR, Aaron (2017) | ||
Member of Chambers | de BRUYN, Laurentia (2018) | ||
Member of Chambers | HUGHES, Gillian (2018) | ||
Member of Chambers | FIELD, Marcus (2019) | ||
Member of Chambers | KOH, Nathalie (2019) | ||
Member of Chambers | SHERMAN, Orestis (2019 | ||
Door Tenant | POTTER QC, Sir Mark (1963) | ||
Door Tenant | LANGLEY QC, Sir Gordon (1966) | ||
Door Tenant | JACOBS QC, Sir Francis (1964) | ||
Door Tenant | BOSWOOD QC, Anthony (1970) (QC 1986) | ||
Door Tenant | SMITH, Sir Andrew | ||
Door Tenant | BRINDLE QC, Michael (1975) (QC 1992) | ||
Door Tenant | CRANE QC, Michael (1975) (QC 1994) | ||
Door Tenant | HAMILTON, Philippa (1984) | ||
Door Tennant | WATT, Katherine (2002) | ||
Door Tenant | SAID, Sebastian (2014) | ||
Door Tenant | WATTS QC, Professor Peter (New Zealand) | ||
Door Tenant | BOO, Professor Lawrence | ||
Door Tenant | SCHWARTZ, Eric A | ||
Door Tenant | WINGFIELD, David R (2013) | ||
Door Tenant | RADICATI DI BROZOLO, Professor Luca G (2014) | ||
Door Tenant | HUGHES, Professor Benjamin | ||
Door Tenant | DHARMANANDA SC, Kanga | ||
Door Tenant | PACHNANDA SA, Gaurav | ||
Door Tenant | ARTERO, Christine | ||
Door Tenant | BENJAMIN SC, Ian | ||
Door Tenant | CHAN, Professor Darius |
Barrister Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Philip Ahlquist | Philip Ahlquist specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration, with particular expertise in… | View Profile |
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Rupert Allen | Rupert is regularly instructed in heavy and high-profile commercial and banking cases,… | View Profile |
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Simon Atrill | Civil and commercial litigation including banking, financial services, insurance/reinsurance, civil fraud, pharmaceuticals… | View Profile |
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Robin Barclay | Robin practises in commercial, regulatory and criminal law with a particular focus… | View Profile |
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Alex Barden | Alex is widely recognised as a leading junior in commercial matters, especially… | View Profile |
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Charles Bear QC | Wide-ranging practice covering: general commercial litigation, judicial review, and public procurement. Commercial… | View Profile |
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Natasha Bennett | Natasha Bennett specialises in general commercial litigation, including banking and financial services,… | View Profile |
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Ian Bergson | Barrister specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration, civil fraud, banking and financial… | View Profile |
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Anthony Boswood QC | Anthony Boswood QC practised at the Commercial Bar in London as a… | View Profile |
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Michael Brindle QC | Michael sits as an arbitrator in major arbitration disputes. His truly international… | View Profile |
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Philip Brook Smith QC | Wide-ranging practice covers a broad spread of commercial and common law work… | View Profile |
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Damien Bruneau | Barrister specialising in commercial litigation, including banking, financial services, civil fraud, aviation,… | View Profile |
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Marianne Butler | Marianne is an experienced commercial barrister, who has a core specialism in… | View Profile |
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Daniel Carall-Green | Administrative & public law, arbitration, aviation, banking & finance, commercial dispute resolution,… | View Profile |
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Chloe Carpenter | Specialises in commercial litigation, financial services, administrative and public law and professional… | View Profile |
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Paul Casey | Barrister specialising in commercial and civil law. | View Profile |
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Jeffrey Chapman QC | Commercial litigation including civil fraud, banking, international arbitration, insurance and reinsurance and… | View Profile |
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Niamh Cleary | Niamh has a broad commercial practice, with a particular emphasis on banking… | View Profile |
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Richard Coleman QC | Richard Coleman QC’s practice spans commercial dispute resolution, banking, financial services, administrative… | View Profile |
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Raymond Cox QC | Barrister specialising in general commercial law, banking and finance, civil fraud, regulation,… | View Profile |
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Michael Crane QC | Michael Crane QC has over fifteen years’ experience as an international arbitrator.… | View Profile |
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James Cutress QC | Specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration, with particular expertise in banking and… | View Profile |
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Derrick Dale QC | Barrister of 27 years call (silk for 7 years) with broad based… | View Profile |
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Nick Daly | Nick specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration and is regularly instructed in… | View Profile |
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Nicolas Damnjanovic | Barrister specialising in commercial litigation, including aviation, banking, civil fraud, public law… | View Profile |
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Eleanor Davison | Eleanor Davison is a leading junior in regulatory law, financial services and… | View Profile |
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Anneliese Day QC | Extensive experience as both Lead Counsel and Arbitrator of commercial, energy and… | View Profile |
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Brian Doctor QC | Referred to as “one of the leading commercial silks at the Bar”… | View Profile |
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James Duffy | Commercial litigation and arbitration practice, including: banking and finance; aviation; civil fraud;… | View Profile |
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Timothy Dutton CBE QC | A leading silk at the London Bar, specialising in commercial litigation, public,… | View Profile |
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Daniel Edmonds | Daniel practises in all aspects of English private commercial law, with particular… | View Profile |
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Max Evans | Barrister dealing with commercial litigation, banking and financial services, aviation, regulatory and… | View Profile |
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Joseph Farmer | Joseph has a diverse and thriving practice. His commercial work includes cases… | View Profile |
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Marcus Field | Broad commercial practice with experience (as solicitor advocate and pupil) of banking… | View Profile |
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Patrick Goodall QC | Barrister specialising in general commercial litigation, including banking and financial services, insurance/reinsurance,… | View Profile |
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Paul Gott QC | Employment law, professional regulation and commercial law. Industrial relations law – especially… | View Profile |
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Richard Handyside QC | A wide range of commercial and other civil litigation, including banking and… | View Profile |
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James Hart | Barrister dealing with commercial litigation; banking and financial services; insurance and reinsurance;… | View Profile |
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Dr Deborah Horowitz | Deborah Horowitz specialises in commercial litigation, banking and finance cases, regulatory investigations,… | View Profile |
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Timothy Howe QC | Specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration (domestic and international) with particular expertise… | View Profile |
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Gillian Hughes | Commercial dispute resolution, banking & finance, civil fraud, insurance and reinsurance, international… | View Profile |
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Laura John | Barrister with a general commercial practice, including banking and financial services, commercial… | View Profile |
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Max Kasriel | Barrister specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration, banking and financial services, professional… | View Profile |
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Henry King QC | General commercial litigation and arbitration practice, with a particular emphasis on banking… | View Profile |
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Christopher Knowles | Christopher is a barrister specialising in insurance and reinsurance, commercial litigation, professional… | View Profile |
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Nathalie Koh | Barrister specialising in commercial and public law | View Profile |
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Christopher Langley | Pursues a broad commercial and civil practice (including aviation, banking and financial… | View Profile |
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Nico Leslie | Banking and finance; Commercial litigation; Fraud – civil; professional negligence; offshore; arbitration.… | View Profile |
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Edward Levey | Barrister specialising in commercial and civil litigation and arbitration, including banking, civil… | View Profile |
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Richard Lissack QC | Richard is a recognised and renowned leading QC practising in the UK,… | View Profile |
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Rebecca Loveridge | Rebecca Loveridge specialises in commercial litigation and financial services regulation. Her practice… | View Profile |
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Bridget Lucas QC | Bridget has a broad practice spanning commercial and chancery litigation and arbitration.… | View Profile |
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Ben Lynch | Commercial Dispute Resolution, Insurance, Professional Negligence and Telecommunications. Recent cases: FCA Business… | View Profile |
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The Hon Michael McLaren QC | Michael McLaren QC is a widely experienced silk with expertise in all… | View Profile |
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Nicholas Medcroft QC | Nicholas Medcroft QC’s practice spans commercial dispute resolution, banking, fraud, corporate crime,… | View Profile |
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Louise Merrett | Reader in International Commercial law and barrister specialising in international commercial litigation… | View Profile |
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Alexander Milner | Barrister practising commercial litigation and international arbitration, with wide experience of civil… | View Profile |
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Andrew Mitchell QC | Specific expertise in banking; civil fraud; commercial contract; (re)insurance and professional negligence,… | View Profile |
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Stephen Moriarty QC | Stephen Moriarty has a very broad commercial litigation and advisory practice, with… | View Profile |
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Leigh-Ann Mulcahy QC | QC, commercial arbitrator and mediator specialising in; Insurance and reinsurance, including employer’s… | View Profile |
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David Murray | Commercial litigation including banking, financial services, aviation, insurance/reinsurance, sale of goods, conflict… | View Profile |
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Deepak Nambisan | Barrister with a substantial commercial practice, including all areas of commercial litigation,… | View Profile |
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Tetyana Nesterchuk | Barrister specialising in international commercial litigation and arbitration (with particular emphasis on… | View Profile |
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Tamara Oppenheimer | Barrister practising in civil and commercial law, including banking, professional negligence, aviation,… | View Profile |
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Simon Paul | Barrister specialising in general commercial litigation and arbitration, including aviation, banking and… | View Profile |
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Rosalind Phelps QC | Commercial silk specialising in civil and commercial litigation and arbitration including aviation,… | View Profile |
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Richard Power | Barrister dealing with commercial and civil law. | View Profile |
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Andrew Pullen | Barrister specialising in international arbitration, based in Singapore. Andrew Pullen’s practice is… | View Profile |
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Samuel Rabinowitz | Barrister practising in commercial law, including in banking & finance, financial services,… | View Profile |
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David Railton QC | David has a broad based commercial practice, having acted for and advised… | View Profile |
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Samuel Ritchie | Barrister specialising in general commercial litigation, including banking and financial services, civil… | View Profile |
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Stuart Ritchie QC | Barrister (Queen’s Counsel) specialising in commercial litigation, civil fraud, employment (directors and… | View Profile |
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Giles Robertson | Barrister dealing with commercial litigation, aviation, civil fraud, banking and finance, international… | View Profile |
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Patricia Robertson QC | Barrister specialising in commercial litigation and related regulatory work: especially, banking/financial services;… | View Profile |
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Stephen Rubin QC | Barrister specialising in heavy commercial litigation in this jurisdiction and overseas. Lead… | View Profile |
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Leonora Sagan | Commercial litigation; fraud-civil; business and regulatory crime; financial services regulation; arbitration. Specialises… | View Profile |
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Akhil Shah QC | Barrister specialising in commercial litigation with an emphasis in aviation, trade finance,… | View Profile |
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Adam Sher | Civil and commercial litigation including banking, financial services, insurance, civil fraud and… | View Profile |
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Orestis Sherman | Broad commercial practice, with experience (as a pupil) in aviation, banking and… | View Profile |
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Mark Simpson QC | Barrister specialising in professional negligence, insurance and general commercial litigation. Notable recent… | View Profile |
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Paul Sinclair QC | Paul specialises in complex Commercial and Chancery disputes in particular in cases… | View Profile |
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Sir Andrew Smith | Sir Andrew Smith was appointed as an arbitrator while as a barrister… | View Profile |
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Aaron Taylor | Broad commercial practice, including Banking & Finance, Commercial Disputes, Aviation, Professional Negligence,… | View Profile |
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John Taylor QC | John Taylor QC has a broad commercial litigation and arbitration practice, including… | View Profile |
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Bankim Thanki QC | Bankim Thanki QC is generally recognised as one of the pre-eminent Leading… | View Profile |
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Adam Tolley QC | Barrister specialising in commercial litigation, banking, employment, insurance, professional negligence and personal… | View Profile |
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Jacob Turner | Barrister specialising in general commercial litigation and arbitration, including banking and finance,… | View Profile |
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Craig Ulyatt | Craig Ulyatt specialises in general commercial litigation including all aspects of banking… | View Profile |
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Ben Valentin QC | Ben is a commercial disputes specialist, with acknowledged expertise in disputes involving… | View Profile |
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Katherine Watt | Barrister specialising in commercial and civil law, particularly banking/finance, professional negligence, professional… | View Profile |
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Giles Wheeler | Barrister with a broad commercial practice with a particular emphasis on banking,… | View Profile |
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Alexandra Whelan | Alexandra specialises in commercial litigation. Her recent cases include aviation, banking, competition,… | View Profile |
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Nik Yeo | Commercial litigation and arbitration, with an emphasis on cross-border disputes and matters… | View Profile |
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Adam Zellick QC | Established Leader for significant cases with a strong, broad-based, commercial practice and… | View Profile |
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Laurentia de Bruyn | Laurentia has a broad commercial and civil practice in line with Chambers’… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Queen's Counsel : 42 Junior Barristers : 48 Door Tenants : 21Languages
French German Russian Italian Afrikaans Hebrew Spanish Greek Croatian Serbian Ukranian Turkish MandarinOther
Singapore Office: : 10 Collyer Quay, Ocean Financial Centre #40-38, Singapore 049315Client Testimonials
CLIENT: UK Law firm
COMPANY/FIRM: A brand-focused boutique litigation firm working across intellectual property and sports matters
TESTIMONIAL: Fountain Court’s clerks are great. They offer our litigation team as much support as is possible. For example, we have regular relationship meetings to ensure that we are happy with every aspect of their service, they offer secondees and their events and seminars are topical and helpful. We also find that their advice on costs invaluable. Fountain Court is one of our Chambers of choice.
CLIENT: International Law firm
TESTIMONIAL: I have instructed members of Fountain Court since 1979. It is not for sentimental reasons that I have kept going back to them, year in and year out. They simply do not let their standards slip.
CLIENT: International law firm
TESTIMONIAL: From my experience of instructing members this year, I can say the following. They “get it” that modern commercial litigation is a team game, with clients, solicitors, experts and barristers all playing their part. They are good team players, easy to deal with, no airs and graces. They understand the time pressures that are generated by heavy commercial cases. They turn things around quickly. Their paperwork is exceptionally good – the typical Fountain Court product is a model of concision and precision, but always accessible – easily readable even for the non-cognoscenti. And their advocacy is outstanding.
CLIENT: International Law firm
TESTIMONIAL: The clerking has always been of the highest calibre. Alex and Paul are a pleasure to deal with. You can talk business with them. They understand the cost pressures on clients and solicitors – and they also go out of their way to deal with unexpected demands thrown up (inevitably) by big cases. The junior clerks win plaudits too from my team.
CLIENT: Offshore Law firm
TESTIMONIAL: I have always found Fountain Court to be very strong on the commercials and on the people skills so they are my ‘go to’ set for cases with difficult people dynamics. Their fees are in keeping with what one would expect and, more to the point, worth every penny.
CLIENT: Global Law firm
TESTIMONIAL: I have had a relationship with Fountain Court that stretches back over 30 years. Our area of practise is mainly but not exclusively Banking Litigation and contentious Regulatory. Their expertise on the Banking litigation side is unrivalled at the bar.
Diversity/Community
Equality and Diversity
Fountain Court is committed to Equality and Diversity. We recognise the obligation not to discriminate against clients, members, pupils or staff on grounds of gender, gender re-assignment, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sexual orientation, age, disability, marriage and civil partnership and religion or belief is a fundamental and legal obligation imposed on us by legislation and the Bar Code of Conduct. We regard it as essential to our standing as a leading commercial set of chambers that we should seek to excel in this, as in the rest of our business. We recruit and retain the very best staff, pupils, and tenants, based on merit, from the widest possible pool of talent.
We have a comprehensive Equality and Diversity Handbook, which sets out the policies we have adopted for ensuring compliance with our legal and regulatory obligations and the Attorney General’s Equality and Diversity Expectations Statement. In particular, we use published, objective, selection criteria in recruiting staff, pupils and tenants and we ensure that all those involved in recruitment have Equality and Diversity training; we participate in programs designed to encourage applicants from under-represented groups, such as the Social Mobility Programme; we provide six months’ rent free parental leave for the primary carer of a newborn or newly adopted baby, as well as the option of an extended career-break; and we support flexible working patterns. Our Equality & Diversity committee also includes members of our clerk’s team. We monitor fairness in allocation of work opportunities between practising barristers and the clerks’ representatives report to our two Equality and Diversity Officers, Stuart Ritchie QC and Tamara Oppenheimer QC, who are responsible for monitoring and reporting on our progress in relation to Equality and Diversity. We are proud of the gender diversity across all ranks of our clerking team itself, including at the senior level with the two deputy senior clerks being female.
Giving back to the community
Fountain Court Chambers has always been at the forefront of delivery of pro bono services. For years, the set’s staff and members have provided advice for those in need through a variety of outlets. For example, junior members provide legal advice in the Bethnal Green Advice centre every Wednesday evening as part of chambers’ ongoing commitment to the centre.
Other schemes that our junior barristers (1-3 years call) volunteer for include: the Queen’s Bench Division Interim Applications Court Pro Bono Advocacy Scheme; and the Chancery Litigants in Person Scheme (CLIPS) set up in conjunction with the Chancery Bar Association to provide Pro Bono representation to litigants in person in the Chancery Division at the Rolls Building, Court 10 and at the Central London County Court.
Chambers is a participant in the Pathways to Law Scheme, developed by the Sutton Trust, which supports and encourages academically able students in Years 12 and 13 from non-privileged backgrounds who are interested in pursuing a career in law. Chambers offers placements to students to gain an insight into the life of chambers and the work of its barristers.
In addition, chambers runs a work experience programme with schools across a number of London boroughs identified as having a higher than average number of pupils who meet the ‘Pupil Premium’ criteria. The criteria for this programme are: (1) Eligibility for free school meals; (2) First Generation University; (3) Minimum of five GCSEs (or predicted); (4) State school educated; and (5) Interest in the legal sector / a career in law. Successful applicants spend five days in chambers and observe the work of barristers, clerks and staff.
Advocate
Former Fountain Court member Lord Goldsmith established Advocate, previously the Bar Pro Bono Unit, which we continue to actively support. Philip Brook Smith QC is a trustee and an instrumental part of the management committee. Silks and juniors continue to review cases and providing legal representation in High Court hearings and many other cases for those most in need but without the ability to pay for representation.
Chambers is also an active participant in the Pro Bono Connect scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to establish a network of chambers and firms of solicitors willing to work together on pro bono cases. It is intended to enable any barrister from a participating chambers working pro bono on a case to request assistance, via the clerks, from a participating solicitor.
Pro Bono
Fountain Court Chambers International Tab
Fountain Court is a set with an excellent reputation for its international work. Covering many diverse practice areas including Aviation, Banking and Finance, Company, Commercial Litigation, Construction, Energy, Offshore, Telecommunications and Travel the set provides experienced advice, counsel and arbitration through all levels of call.
International appointments
Michael Bridle QC has recently been appointed as President of the newly created Abu Dhabi Global Market appeals panel. Patricia Robertson QC has also been appointed as a member of that same panel. In collaboration with other International Financial Centres, global institutions and regulators, Abu Dhabi Global Market develops and supports member institutions with the regulatory framework, legal jurisdiction and attractive business environment they need for sustainable business growth.
Offshore
Members have predominantly acted offshore for institutional and corporate clients, but also in cases involving representation of ultra-high net worth individuals. They have also acted in oligarch-influenced cases involving significant Russian investors. In recent years, Members of Chambers have received instructions in relation to substantial offshore cases from some of the largest mainstream US and UK litigation firms, as well as from (or working in conjunction with) many of the significant offshore firms.
International Arbitration
Members regularly act in arbitrations with an international dimension: as well as acting in London arbitrations, many members have experience of acting in arbitrations conducted in foreign jurisdictions; similarly, many members have experience of acting in arbitrations where the subject matter of the dispute is governed by a foreign law.
Given exponential growth in the number of international commercial disputes being referred to the Singapore International Arbitration Centre and the longer-term prospect of a Singapore International Commercial Court, the set established permanent presence in Singapore in September 2014.
Outside of Singapore, individual members have seen multi-jurisdictional cases involving a variety of jurisdictions including India, Switzerland, the UAE, Russia, Turkey and Israel, in disputes involving a wide range of sectors, including property, aviation, construction, shipping, financial services, international supply contracts, telecommunications and insurance. Work in the DIFC Courts and arbitral institutions has seen a particular increase, with members appearing in the DIAC
International Arbitrators
Members have a wide range of experience across a variety of industries dealing with all types of disputes relating to arbitrations themselves, such as the construction and validity of arbitration agreements, the conduct of arbitrations, the removal of arbitrators, the granting of interim remedies, the enforcement of awards and appeals. They are familiar with the various institutional arbitration regimes, including the International Chamber of Commerce, the London Court of International Arbitration, the UNCITRAL Rules and the City Disputes Panel.
Most senior members of Chambers have accepted appointments as arbitrators, and many of them are highly experienced arbitrators with strong reputations in the market. Increasingly, junior members of chambers are also being invited to sit as arbitrators in complex and high profiles matters.
Notable international cases include:
- Sonera v Cukorova litigation involves the enforcement of a US$1 billion ICC award. The case has generated a considerable number of rulings in the British Virgin Islands, including several appeals to both the BVI Court of Appeal and Privy Council in London; the case is a good example of the substantial arbitration-related disputes in which Members are regularly involved.
- Naftogaz v. Gazprom, two very substantial arbitrations in the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce against Gazprom of Russia, relating to the sale and supply of Russian natural gas. The sums involved are extremely large in excess of US$40 billion and make the cases some of the largest in the world by value.
- Ng Su Ling and Qua Su Ling v Goldman Sachs, claims worth millions of Singapore dollars arising out of Goldman Sachs calling in of substantial margin loan facilities and subsequent realization of share collateral.
- The CLICO Inquiry in Trinidad and Tobago, concerning the circumstances in which major banking and insurance companies based in Trinidad & Tobago sustained losses totalling billions of dollars.
- Tempo Group Limited v Fortuna Development Corporation and ors was a six week trial conducted between September and December 2014 in the Cayman Islands Grand Court (judgment is still awaited) which involved both complex factual issues going back over many years and tricky legal problems as to the validity of company EGMs and board meetings, whether a director was properly removed as a director and the validity of bearer share certificates issued by a Samoan company.
- The Blesmir Development Limited and another v Mail.ru Group Limited and others litigation in the BVI concerned the ownership of VKontakte the Russian Facebook social networking site worth several billions of dollars.
- The longest trial in Cayman Islands history, a hedge funds dispute, and a very significant case in both St. Lucia and St. Kitts & Nevis, relating to a US$3.5 billion shareholder dispute involving Russian parties, which has seen proceedings in the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, with the losing party planning to appeal to the Privy Council.
- Proceedings in the British Virgin Islands on behalf of TeliaSonera to enforce a US$1 billion arbitration award, resulting in a recent appeal before the Privy Council.
- Proceedings in the Cayman Islands arising from the collapse of the Weavering hedge fund.
- A Privy Council appeal from the Court of Appeal of Trinidad & Tobago regarding a multi-million pound dispute over the estate of a high net worth Caribbean individual in which various members of the individuals family are involved
- Case involving allegations of money laundering to be heard in the Supreme Court of Gibraltar
- Arch Cru litigation, being heard in Guernsey, over losses allegedly caused by investment in high-risk offshore funds
- BITEL litigation in the Isle of Man heard in the Privy Council.
- Various credit crunch cases concerning Jersey-based corporate entities and investment funds.
- Case involving a leading Bahraini regulated bank involving the valuation of various CDO notes, face value of several hundred million US dollars.
Countries of expertise include:
Albania |
Denmark | Jersey | Russia |
Argentina | Dubai | Kazakh | Singapore |
Australia | Egypt | Kenya | South Africa |
Azerbaijan | Far East | Lagos | Spain |
Bahamas | France | Liechtenstein | St Kitts & Nevis |
Bermuda | Germany | Luxembourg | Sweden |
British Virgin Islands | Gibraltar | Malaysia | Switzerland |
Canada | Guernsey | Maldives | Tajikistan |
Cayman Islands | Honk Kong | Mauritius | Trinidad and Tobago |
Chile | India | New Zealand | Turks & Caicos |
Columbia | Isle of Man | Nigeria | Uganda |
Cyprus | Italy | Norway | Ukraine |
USA |
Singapore Office:
Ocean Financial Centre #37-06/10
10 Collyer Quay
Singapore 049315
Diversity
Fountain Court is committed to Equality and Diversity. We recognise the obligation not to discriminate against clients, members, pupils or staff on grounds of gender, gender re-assignment, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sexual orientation, age, disability, marriage and civil partnership and religion or belief is a fundamental and legal obligation imposed on us by legislation and the Bar Code of Conduct. We regard it as essential to our standing as a leading commercial set of chambers that we should seek to excel in this, as in the rest of our business. We recruit and retain the very best staff, pupils, and tenants, based on merit, from the widest possible pool of talent.
We have a comprehensive Equality and Diversity Handbook, which sets out the policies we have adopted for ensuring compliance with our legal and regulatory obligations and the Attorney General’s Equality and Diversity Expectations Statement. In particular, we use published, objective, selection criteria in recruiting staff, pupils and tenants and we ensure that all those involved in recruitment have Equality and Diversity training; we participate in programs designed to encourage applicants from under-represented groups, such as the Social Mobility Programme; we provide six months’ rent free parental leave for the primary carer of a newborn or newly adopted baby, as well as the option of an extended career-break; and we support flexible working patterns. Our Equality & Diversity committee also includes members of our clerk’s team. We monitor fairness in allocation of work opportunities between practising barristers and the clerks’ representatives report to our two Equality and Diversity Officers, Stuart Ritchie QC and Tamara Oppenheimer QC, who are responsible for monitoring and reporting on our progress in relation to Equality and Diversity. We are proud of the gender diversity across all ranks of our clerking team itself, including at the senior level with the two deputy senior clerks being female.
Giving back to the community
Fountain Court Chambers has always been at the forefront of delivery of pro bono services. For years, the set’s staff and members have provided advice for those in need through a variety of outlets. For example, junior members provide legal advice in the Bethnal Green Advice centre every Wednesday evening as part of chambers’ ongoing commitment to the centre.
Other schemes that our junior barristers (1-3 years call) volunteer for include: the Queen’s Bench Division Interim Applications Court Pro Bono Advocacy Scheme; and the Chancery Litigants in Person Scheme (CLIPS) set up in conjunction with the Chancery Bar Association to provide Pro Bono representation to litigants in person in the Chancery Division at the Rolls Building, Court 10 and at the Central London County Court.
Chambers is a participant in the Pathways to Law Scheme, developed by the Sutton Trust, which supports and encourages academically able students in Years 12 and 13 from non-privileged backgrounds who are interested in pursuing a career in law. Chambers offers placements to students to gain an insight into the life of chambers and the work of its barristers.
In addition, chambers runs a work experience programme with schools across a number of London boroughs identified as having a higher than average number of pupils who meet the ‘Pupil Premium’ criteria. The criteria for this programme are: (1) Eligibility for free school meals; (2) First Generation University; (3) Minimum of five GCSEs (or predicted); (4) State school educated; and (5) Interest in the legal sector / a career in law. Successful applicants spend five days in chambers and observe the work of barristers, clerks and staff.
Advocate
Former Fountain Court member Lord Goldsmith established Advocate, previously the Bar Pro Bono Unit, which we continue to actively support. Philip Brook Smith QC is a trustee and an instrumental part of the management committee. Silks and juniors continue to review cases and providing legal representation in High Court hearings and many other cases for those most in need but without the ability to pay for representation.
Chambers is also an active participant in the Pro Bono Connect scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to establish a network of chambers and firms of solicitors willing to work together on pro bono cases. It is intended to enable any barrister from a participating chambers working pro bono on a case to request assistance, via the clerks, from a participating solicitor.
XTop Tier Set Rankings
- London Bar Proceeds of crime (POCA) and asset forfeiture
- London Bar Administrative and public law (including elections)
- London Bar Aviation
- London Bar Banking and finance (including consumer credit)
- London Bar Commercial litigation
- London Bar Financial services regulation
- London Bar Fraud: civil
- London Bar Health and safety
- London Bar Construction
- London Bar IT and telecoms
Set Rankings
- London Bar Insurance and reinsurance
- London Bar International arbitration: arbitrators
- London Bar Insolvency
- London Bar Offshore
- London Bar Professional disciplinary and regulatory law
- London Bar Professional negligence
- London Bar Travel law (including jurisdictional issues)
- London Bar Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
- London Bar Company and partnership
- London Bar International arbitration: counsel
- London Bar Energy
- London Bar Employment
- London Bar Civil liberties and human rights (including actions against the police)
- London Bar Product liability
- Regional Bar Set overviews: England and Wales
- London Bar Set overviews: England and Wales